East-West corridor project begins

Aizawl, Dec 08: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)has begun construction of 3000 kms East-West corridor, billed as one ofthe biggest project of the country involving the NE region.

The proposed NHAI project, connecting Silchar (Asom-Mizoramborder) in the region by a four-lane highway, promises to change theconcept of road communication as conceived in the area, officialsources here today stated.

At present, small and dusty roads make up most of the road networks in the NE region.

More than 5,000 engineers and suppliers have assembled from across the country for the project.

Apart from this, the Union shipping and surface transport ministryhas also launched a special accelerated road development programme toconnect all the state capitals in the NE region through four-lanenational highway was in phased manner.

The phase-A of the road development programme, which has beenapproved at an estimated cost of more than four thousand crore, aims toexpand of national highways especially in NE region, measuring about1246 km, to four-lane routs.

About 85 districts headquarters in the region will be benefitedthrough this improved and upgraded national highways, the officialsources said adding Phase-B of the programme will include 83 roads withan aggregate length of more than 6,000 km, the detailed project reportis under prepration and for which the Centre has accorded top priority,the sources added.

UNI